Brook Lopez began the year playing at an All-Star level for the Nets last season, but the numbers he was putting up didn’t translate to very many victories.

Brooklyn was below .500 while Lopez averaged 20.7 points, six rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots in 31.4 minutes per game, and ended up with a record of just 7-10 in his appearances, before he went down with a foot fracture that prematurely ended his season.

The Nets managed to turn things around beginning in January, and played well the second half of the season and through the first round of the playoffs — successes that all came with Lopez out of action.

Nets GM Billy King, however, doesn’t believe that the loss of Lopez contributed to his team’s success.

“Missing (Brook Lopez) didn’t allow us to go further (last season)..right now, there isn’t a plan to put any restrictions on him.” @bkdefend